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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




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THE PLEDGE IN SERMON. 



.BY 



G. R RUTLEDGE. 



Six Sermons on the Christian Endeavor Pledge. 



PREACHED IN 

Tk Free Mason-Street Church of Christ. 

Norfolk, Virginia. 



F*3r-ic:5^, T'o Oe^xT-t^. 



RICHMOND, VA.: 

J. L, Hill Printing Company, 

1896. 









COPYKIGHT, 1896. 




\V..StUSGTON 



dbmt ant) tbe Cburcb 



ii ^RUSllNG in the Lord Jesus Christ 
for strength^ I promise Him that I will 
strive to do whatever He would like to have 
me do ; that I will make it the rule of my life 
to pray and to read the Bible every day^ and 
to support my oiv7i church in every way, es- 
pecially by attending all her regular Sunday 
and mid'iveek se7^vices, unless prevented by 
some reason iiuhich I can conscientiously give 
to my Saviour ; ajid that, just so far as I 
know hozv, throughout my whole life, I will 
endeavor to lead a Christian life. 

'^ As an active member, I promise to be true 
to all fny duties, to be present at, and take 
some part, aside from singing, in every 
Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting , unless 
hindered by some reason which I can consci- 
entiously give to my Lord and Master > If 
obliged to be absent from the monthly conse- 
cration meeting of the society, I will, if pos- 
sible^ se7id at least a verse of Scripture to be 
read in response to my name at the roll-calL'' 



'TT^HE Christian Endeavor Pledge 
is a marv^el in modern religious 
literature. It never wears out. The 
more it is studied, the more it enriches 
the mind and heart of the student. It 
is within the comprehension of the 
most illiterate, and readily attracts 
and holds the attention of children : 
yet, under the eye of the scholar, it 
sparkles with rare gems of thought 
and wisdom. It charmingly sets forth 
and conveniently systematizes our 
daily Christian duties. It comprises 
six leading subjects: ''Christian 



Strength/' ^'Loyalty to Christ," 
'' Prayer, " *' Bible Study, " '^ The 
House of God/' '' Consecration/' 
While pastor of the Free Mason- 
Street Church of Christ, Norfolk, Va., 
the author preached a sermon on each 
of these subjects. The serial was de- 
livered in the interests of the Christian 
Endeavor movement in Tidewater 
Virginia. Under the providence of 
God it is now sent forth upon a more 
extended mission of usefulness. This 
little volume is dedicated to CHRIST 
AND THE CHURCH, with the hope 
that it will cause every one into whose 
hands it may fall to realize a keener 
sense of duty, and to thereby become 
more efficient in the field of Gospel 
Labor. 



Subject©: 



CHRISTIAN STRENGTH. 

LOYALTY TO CHRIST. 

PRAYER. 

BIBLE STUDY. 

THE HOUSE OF GOD. 

CONSECRATION. 



Christian Strength. 



CHRISTIAN STRENGTH. 



^'I can do all things throngli Christ, who strengthen- 
eth me.'' — Philippians iv. : 13. 

MODERN ISRAEL. 

WHEIvT Samuel rebuked King Saul for 
not having utteriy destroyed Araa- 
lek, he referred to the Lord as " The 
Strength of Israel." The Israelites were 
the Lord's ^'Chosen People." When 
loyal to Him, they were in special touch 
with His Omnipotence. Consequently 
their power of endurance, effectual when 
waging war, establishing cities, or endeav- 
oring in any way to extend their influence, 
was wonderful to both themselves and 
their enemies. 

2 



18 Christian Strength. 

The Children of Israel typified the Fol- 
lowers of Christ. Moses said to his peo- 
ple : " The Lord thy God will raise up 
unto thee a prophet from the midst of 
thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto 
Him ye shall hearken/' 

Both the Apostle Peter and the martyr 
Stephen declared that this prophecy was 
fulfilled in the birth of Christ. 

If we have hearkeiud unto the voice of 
Jesus, he is our Leader. The JSTew Tes- 
tament language : " Te are a Chosen 
Generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Iloly 
Nation, a Peculiar People, which in time 
past were not a people, but are now the 
people of God,'' applies to us. 

The Lord has chosen us to represent 
His interests in the world. We are both 
His Soldiery and Ministry. Through us, 
He hopes to give all men access to a sav- 
ing knowledge of the Truth. We are 



Christian Strength. W' 

called upon, therefore, to eixdure hardness. 
to march against the host of sin, to estab- 
lish and support radiating centres of 
Christianity, and to subordinate every- 
thing on earth to the Cause we have 
espoused. 

If, in loyalty to Hira, we earnestly en- 
deavor to extend the blessed influences of 
His Holy Religion, He will be our Strength. 
Together we can sing: ** God is our Re- 
fuge and Strength, a very present help in 
time of trouble; therefore will we not fear, 
though the earth be removed, and though 
the mountains be cast into the midst of 
the sea; though the waters roar and be 
troubled, and though the mountains shake 
with the swelling thereof.'' 

This psalm, also, can arise with tri- 
umphant melody in each heart : '* The 
Lord is the strength of my life, of whom 
shall I be afraid? When the wicked. 



20 Christian Strength, 

even mine enemies and my foes, came 
upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled 
and fell. Though an host should encamp 
about me, my heart shall not fear; thouojh 
war should rise against me, in this will I 
be confident. For, in the time of trouble. 
He shall hide me in His pavilion, in the 
secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; 
He shall set me upon a rock." 

The stern realities of the Christian life 
are now upon us. When we accepted 
Christ as our Savior, we listened to the 
friendly voice of wisdom^ prepared our 
effects and started for the ''Land of 
Promise.'' The Eed sea is behind us, and 
a part of the journey has been made. 

Human nature is ever the same. The 
difficulties, with which Moses contended, 
are in the way of Christian progress. It 
may be that, because of unbelief we have 
already hungered, thirsted, grown weary, 



Christian Strength. 21 

and lost battles. Perhaps some, thinking 
the wilderness too great and dense to 
cross, have contemplated a return to the 
slavery andfleshpots of sin. Such thoughts 
are our most malignant foes. Let them 
be slain and entombed by the wayside. 
Hearken to Him, in whose hand is the 
rod of authority and power. Our Leader 
says, " Go forward," and His command 
must be obeyed without a question or 
murmur. 

The Lord of hosts is with us. If we 
persevere and faint not, the monotony of 
thejourney will be constantly broken by 
prolonged showers of blessings. Manna 
will fall from Heaven, meat will be borne 
to our camp upon wings, crystal waters 
will gush forth and follow us, our enemies 
will flee, and we will ultimately reach the 
Canaan of Bliss. 



22 Christian Strength. 

SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN STRENGTH. 

'^ Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, 
and He shall strengthen thine heart." 

I am glad the Christian Endeavor Pledge 
begins with this clear expression of Chris- 
tian confidence, ^' Trusting in the Lord 
Jesus Christ for strength.'^ 

Jesus is the '' Author and finisher of 
our faith. '^ He is, therefore, the only 
source of spiritual power and Christian 
efficiency. 

" Christ is all and in all.'' Both natu- 
ral and spiritual strength emanate from 
Him. By Him all things were made, and 
in Him all things exist. The strength of 
all material systems results from His crea- 
tive and preserving influence. He is the 
strength of mountains, volcanoes, oceans, 
rivers, storms, and all inanimate existence. 

From the minutest form of animal Vfe 
to the most powerful exhibition of it, there 



Chfisttan Strength. 23 

is a never-ceasing restlessness — each indi- 
vidual creature moving according to its 
own nature, and performing the functions 
of its own sphere; and of this entire 
realm of animal existence and marvelous 
operations, Christ is the strength, 

Man is not so strong, physically, as 
many animals of his size ; but no repre- 
sentative of the animal Kinsrdom is so 
great as he. 

Ilis physical and mental strength forms 
a wonderful and powerful combination, 
whose energetic hand reaches up into the 
heavens and down into the bowels of the 
earth, and thereby causes both the ethereal 
and mundane spheres to serve him. 

He laughs at circumstances. They are 
his toys. 

He compels the light of the sun to con- 
vey him across continents, to ploui;*h the 
mighty deep with his cargoes, to operate 



24 Christian Strength. 

the machinery of his factories, to illumi- 
nate his habitations at niojht, to paint his 
own likeness, and to serve him in various 
other capacities. 

He controls the winds of the sea, and 
they drive his vessels according to his 
will. The engine on the track, the motor 
power of our city railways, the balloon in 
the air, and the practical results of every in- 
vention are exhibitions of man's strength. 

He delights in doing the seemingly im- 
possible. ]!^ot satisfied with having turned 
the world into a whispering gallery, he 
has successfully phonographed the various 
tones and peculiarities of his own voice ; 
so that he can talk when his tongue is 
silent in death. He has invented eyes, 
with which to see the invisible. He has 
brought the ^' Twinkling diamonds of the 
sky^' so close to his study-window, that 
he no longer wonders what they are, but 



Christian Strength, 25 

discusses their relations one to another, 
describes the peculiar composition of each, 
measures their circumferences, records 
their weight, reads their history, prophe- 
cies their future, and then pulls to the 
shutters without being satisfied. 

He is now endeavoring to converse 
with the inhabitants of Mars, and to in- 
vent a system of 7nental telegraphy in his 
own world. Should he succeed in either 
or both, that which he shall have accom- 
plished will only aggravate and make 
keener his desires to go further and do 
more. His watchword is onward^ his only 
theme is success^ and contentment is not in 
his vocabulary. 

His ambitions are eternal, and his pos- 
sibilities are unlimited. 

He is the repository of inanimate, ani- 
mate, and mental strength. Yet, his only 
source of strength is the One to whom he 



26 Christian Strength. 

goes tsventy times every minute for the 
very breath he draws — the God, in whom 
he Iwes and moves and has his being, 

THE PURPOSE OF OUR CREATION. 

We are not here by accident, nor do we 
exist without a purpose. God had a wise 
purpose in view when he created man. 
The creature was richly endowed with 
restrictive, transposing, and inventive 
powers, that he might glorify the Creator. 

We live to glorify God, and if His right- 
eousness is not reflected in our lives, our 
sojourn on earth is a failure. Against the 
soul that does not honor God, its inventive 
genius and all the powers that constitute 
it an individuality will bear convicting 
testimony in judgment; and they will be 
active, also, in promoting its punishment, 
in that state of remorse to which it will 
have been consigned by its own obstinacy 
and lethargy. 



Christian Strength. 27 

Divine strength is indispensable in a 
successful Christian life. 

THE METHOD OF OBTAINING CHRISTIAN 
STRENGTH. 

Physical strength is created or organ- 
ized under the laws that regulate physical 
culture; mental strength is engendered in 
a similar way ; and spiritual culture^ regu- 
lated by the Law of Christ — Love — results 
in spiritual strength. 

Our own methods of physical and men- 
tal training effect a union with nature's 
God, through which the coveted strength 
can be possessed ; but, of himself, no man 
can either plan or conduct his own spiritual 
culture. 

Socrates framed a system of Moral Phil- 
osophy, but acknowledged its weakness, 
when, in the evening of his life, he said, 
^' We must wait until one shall come to 



28 Christio.n Strength, 

teach us our duty to God." The origina- 
tors and professors of Moral Philosophy 
have been numerous, and they have rec- 
ommended a great many commendable 
systems; but, so far as the successful and 
complete development of man's spiritual 
nature is concerned, Moral Philosophy is 
a failure. 

It has a mission to fulfill, and is, there- 
fore, entitled to respect; but, in every life, 
there are exigencies, wherein its strength 
is weakness. 

The inadequacy of Moral Philosophy to 
the salvation of souls must be acknowl- 
edged. '' It is not in man, that walketh, 
to direct his ways." Hence, the ynanifes- 
iation of God in the flesh. 

Between Himself and us, sin had placed 
a gulf. In the nature of things, it was 
impassable. Divinity could not cross it, 
neither could degraded humanity. We 



Christian Strength. 29 

v>^ere lost, and God was grieved. To ac- 
coraraodate our necessities, He took upon 
Himself the form of man, Christ Jesus 
is our Hope. The gulf has been bridged 
over by His perfect humanity ^ which is our 
only means of approach to His Divinity. 

In the person of his own dear son, God 
has made it possible for us to touch His 
Omnipotence, to be thrilled with super- 
natural power, and to quit ourselves like 
men. The Divinity of Christ electrifies 
the soul, and places within it the possibili- 
ties of eternal life. Intercourse with Christ 
is, therefore, necessary to a union with God ; 
and this union is an assurance of Chris- 
tian Strength, which is the mightiest 
influence in the world. 

This vital union is effected and main- 
tained through Faith. " Faith is the sub- 
stance of things hoped for^ the evidence of 
things not seen." The broadest and most 



30 Christian Strength. 

far-reacliirj2f mind can coinprehend only a 
few of its wonderful possibilities. Jesus 
leads us in sight of them, when lie de- 
clares that Faith as a grain of mustard seed 
can remove mountains. 

The intelh'gent Christian realizes that 
the ^' King of Kings '^ sits upon the throne 
of his affections, and reigns in his life, 
and is, therefore, conscious of Almighty 
power within himself 

He rejoices in the familiar song — 

'* Jesus, I live to Thee, 
The loveliest and best; 
My life in Thee, Thy life in me, 
In Thy blest love I rest." 

He can also engage in this soul-lifting 
petition, which commands attention in 
Heaven, and foils as sweet strains of music 
on the ear of Him, who has promised to 
be with us in " Every good word and 
work." 



Christian Strength, 31 

**My God, my Strength, my Hope, 

On Thee, I cast my care ; 
With humble confidence, look up, 

And know Thou hearest my prayer, 
Give me on Thee to wait 

Till I can all things do — 
On Thee, Almighty to create, 

Almighty to renew." 

In Christ, it is our prerogative to be 
confident of the ability to save ourselveSy 
and also to assist others in finding the 
" Pearl of greatest price.^' 

Looking out upon the duties of life and 
beyond the veil into the bliss of Heaven, we 
should each triumphantly saj^ with the 
zealous apostle : " I can do all things 
through Christ, who strengtheneth me." 

OUR WORK. 

In the strength of our loving Savior 
we can overcome temptations, and ever 
feel the "Everlasting arms'^ beneath us. 



32 Christian Strength, 

^' For the Lord knoweth how to deliver 
the godly out of temptations." ^' In all 
things we are more than conquerors, 
through Him that loved us." 

^'Neither death, nor life, nor angels, 
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things 
present, nor things to come, nor height, 
nor depth, nor any other creature shall be 
able to separate us from the love of God, 
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." To 
every believing soul, the Holy Spirit says, 
" All things are yours — for ye are Christ's, 
and Christ is God's." 

We will not enter the Celestial City as 
beggars, but, in the strength of our Savior, 
will have merited an eternal residence in 
the mansions He has gone to prepare for us. 

Heaven will be the reward of our earthly 
labors. 

We are/r€e moral agejits^ and are instru- 
mental in the salvation of our own souls. 



Christian Strength, 33 

The characters that will shine in glory 
must be made in earth. Having placed 
us in perfectly equipped workshops, and 
given us His Son for a Teacher, our Hea- 
venly Father has made each of us '* The 
architect of his own character.^' May 
we, therefore, sit meekly at the feet of 
Him who came to teach lis our duty to God 
(which is also our duty to ourselves), and 
learn of Him; and then, in the strength 
He supplies, may we put the lessons He 
has taught us into practice, by working out 
our own salvation according to our own 
natures. 

Influence is eternal. '' No man liveth 
unto himself.'^ We cannot save ourselves 
without helping to save others. 

Our significant motto, '' Christ for the 
world, and the world for Christ," ought 
to be literally fulfilled in His strength. 

The Christian Endeavor movement has 



34 Christian Strength. 

already accomplished wonders; but the 
morning flowers have not yet drooped 
their heads, dewdrops still sparkle on the 
leaves, and the sun throws kisses over the 
eastern hills. Our day has just been born. 
What propitious circumstances environ 
us ! How multitudinous our opportunities ! 
The sky is clear, the weather fine, and the 
golden harvest invites our sickles. '' Work 
while it is day, for the night cometh, when 
no man can work." The world is our 
field. We can labor where we choose, 
and none can break our instruments, or 
drive us away. ^^ If God be for us, who 
can be against us.'^ 



Loyalty to Christ. 



LOYALTY TO CHRIST. 



* ' He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, 
he it IS that loveth me," — John xiv. : 21. 

IN the preceding sermon it was our ob- 
ject to exalt Christ, and to impress 
some of the possibilities of the strength 
He supplies. The theme that shall now 
engage our attention is an indispensable 
stone in the foundation of Christianity. 
It, also, both regulates the influences of 
our Savior's religion upon the heart and 
oflorifies the achievements of the life. 



o 



THE TRUE MOTIVE OF CHRISTIAN ACTIVITY. 

Christianity is based on neither maxims 
nor commandments, but on the grandest 
principle of the universe — Love. Hence, 



40 Loyalty to Christ, 

a mau may ^^ Speak with the tongues of 
Angels . . . have the gift of prophecy, 
understand all mysteries, bestow all his 
goods to feed the poor, and give his body 
to be burned," without profit to himself, 
because his religion may not have the com- 
plexion that pleases God and strengthens 
the spirit. Unless the heart is filled with 
Liom for God, and its subordinate but in- 
evitable principle — Love for man, it is as 
" Sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." 
Upon it, the only Religion that really 
develops and saves the soul, has been for- 
ever established. 

"Grod is Love." Love is the one Law 
of Heaven, and it, alone, is responsible 
for our Savior's advent to earth. '' God 
so loved the world that He gave His only 
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on 
Him might not perish, but have everlasting 
life." Before man's degeneracy, his un- 



Loyalty to Christ. 41 

tarnished purity reflected the likeness of 
his Creator; but, after his fall, he no 
longer partook of the Divine N'ature. 
The object of Redemption in Christ is to 
re-unite us to God, in order that we may 
again partake of His holy nature and be 
like Him. The Law, that delegated Christ 
to earth and operated Him in the flesh, 
arrests the prodigal soul, transforms its 
disposition, and operates it in the Kingdom 
of God. The Law, therefore, which 
brought our Savior to earth, takes His 
people to Heaven. 

The Bible employs the strongest terms 
and figures of language to give us a par- 
tial conception of hell, and also charm- 
ingly intimates the bliss of Heaven. This 
is done in order that we may contrast the 
future states of the soul, and rejoice more 
exceedingly in the promises of God and our 



42 Loyalty to Christ. 

hope of Glory. But neither description 
should produce or control the sole motive 
of Christian service. 

Selfish oflPerings are never placed on the 
genuine Christian altar. The Master can- 
not appreciate words and actions that 
result from either the fear of jpunishment or 
the hope of reward. He takes pleasure only 
in the lives that issue from hearts of Love. 
" The love of Christ constraineth us.'^ 
Feeling an indescribable interest in His 
disciples, He tenderly said to them, ^' If 
ye love me^ Keep my commandments." 
His emphatic declaration, " If a man love 
me, he will keep my words," sets forth, 
explicitly, the true motive of Christian 
activity. Also our text, "He that hath 
my commandments and keepeth them, he 
it is that loveth me," clearly exhibits the 
foundation of Loyalty to Christ, 



Loyalty to Christ. 43 

THE CHRISTIAN'S PLEDGE. 

When we came boldly to Go(Vs Throne of 
Grace^ and professed implicit confidence 
in His Son, whom we accepted as our 
Savior, we became identified with His 
church. We then made solemn vows and 
assumed obligations that are reiterated and 
conveniently systematized in the Christian 
Endeavor Pledge. 7 he monthly consecration 
meeting of the society makes us more familiar 
with these responsibilities, and impresses 
upon us the importance of respecting 
them, and thereby causes us to exalt Christ 
more joyfully and to extend the blessings 
of His Religion more zealously. 

Our Loyalty to Christ means that His 
Church shall have our undivided support. 
The first part of the Pledge : *^ trusting 
in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I 
promise Him that Twill strive to do whatever 



44 Loyalty to Christ. 

He would like to have me do^'' links our 
destinies with the People of God, and 
constitutes the only platform of Christian 
service. It is a crime to break the pledge, 
'^ When thou shalt vow a vow unto the 
Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay 
it; for the Lord thy God will surely re- 
quire it of thee." 

CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP. 

Jesus is our King. He rules with the 
golden scepter of love. Does it meet with a 
glad response in our hearts? If we are 
loyal subjects of the King, we naturally 
feel and manifest a deep interest in every 
part of His Dominion. 

National pride is commendable. He, 
in whose heart it does not exist, has either 
failed to develop, or subdued one of the 
soul's noblest passions. 

The real patriot loves his country. He 
reads her history with pleasure, and con- 



Loyalty to Christ. 45 

templates her future with joy. He is 
proud of her resources, and enthusiastic 
over her accomplishments. His heart 
throbs when her interests are at stake. If 
it is necessary, he does not hesitate to sac- 
rifice his life upon her sacred altar. Ought 
we to be less loyal to God than to our 
country ? Christian Patriotism should be 
indelibly stamped upon the countenance 
of every citizen of God's Kingdom. Let 
it take root in the heart, bloom and bear 
fruit in the life, and inspire every energy 
of the soul with a vivid sense of its duty 
and the determination to perform it. The 
Romans gloried in Rome; the English- 
man's face beams with devotion to his 
country, and nothing is so precious in the 
American's eye as the Stars and Stripes. 
Why then should not the Lord's Chosen 
People rejoice in their superior nationality ? 
Heaven pity the man who is ashamed of 



46 Loyalty to Christ. 

the standard which the Gospel of Christ 
has unfurled over his life. 

The idea of Good Oitizeyiship^ which is 
being so practically developed and fear- 
lessly recommended by Christian Endeav- 
orers, is excellent. Its influence will be 
universal, and its mission will be an ever- 
lasting blessing upon mankind. I am 
glad Christian Endeavor stands for Good 
Citizenship^ not only among the nations of 
the earth, but also in the Kingdom of 
God. 

*' Hypocrites in the Church '^ is ever 
upon the lips of sinners. A lack of Loy- 
alty to Christ in word, deed, or attitude, 
impedes the progress of His Religion. 
Oh, what responsibilities rest upon pro- 
fessing Christians ! The world is all eyes, 
and before it we stand ! We are known and 
read of all men; and one thoughtless word, 
one compromising act, or one hour of leth- 



Loyalty to Christ 47 

argy may rob Christ of a soul and send it 
to perdition. Our constant prayer should 
be : Help us, dear Lord, to live so close to 
Thee that Thy righteousness may shine through 
ns upon the lost world, and grant that our 
lives may richly bless all with whom we come 
in contact. 

A DETECTIVE AGENCY. 

Originally, the cattle on a thousand hills 
belonged to the Lord. He was the song 
of every brook, the fragrance of every 
flower, and the whisper of every breeze. 
The animals that roamed the forest in- 
stinctively obeyed His will. The creatures 
in Eden, who constituted the Crowning 
Glory of Creation, were His companions. 
He walked and talked with them on vari- 
ous occasions. Everything in the earth 
contributed to His Glory. He was in and 
had the full control of all things. " The 



48 Loyalty to Christ. 

earth is the Lord's, and the fulness 
thereof," would have been an appropriate 
song for our first parents in their pristine 
purity 

But a bold theft was committed, and a 
sad change took place. Satan crept into 
the Garden of Eden, and laid his hand on 
God's most precious treasure. The heart 
of man was stolen. 

The Divine image upon it was effaced, 
and it became an instrument, through 
which the world was taken from its 
Creator. ** Can a man rob God ? " The 
history of our fallen race answers the 
question. Besides withholding himself 
from the service of God, he has changed 
Divine blessings into curses. He manu- 
factures the fruit of the earth into poison,, 
and compels both the light of the sun and 
the winds of the seas to convey it upon 
its deadly mission. He builds the timber 



Loyalty to Christ. 49 

of the forest and the clay of the earth 
into shelters for iniquity. He subjects the 
land, seas, and heavens, and also time, to 
the devices of sin. 

Through him Satan has established and 
maintains thriving enterprises in every 
city, town, and hamlet. This monarch of 
unrighteousness claims a monopoly of the 
whole world, and in everything he is 
entirely dependent upon the agency of man. 

Through man the world was lost, and 
through him it shall be saved. When, to 
the wicked Jews, who clamored for the 
death of Christ, Pilot said, "Behold the 
man,'' he ignorantly pointed to the begin- 
ning of the end. '' As in Adam all die, 
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.'' 
Christ is the Hope of the world. By 
means of His Holy Religion, God will 
again survey the earth and rejoice as its 
owner. Through the instrumentality of 



50 Loyalty to Christ, 

the people, who possess the mind of Christ, 
the Millennium will be established. 

Having determined to recover his prop- 
erty, the Lord has honored us with the 
privilege and pleasure of subduing sin in 
our own lives, modifying it in the lives 
of others, and unfurling the Standard of 
Bighteoumess throughout the world. 

We, therefore, constitute a great De- 
iective Agency — through which Intemper- 
ancCj Profanity^ Lasciviousiiess, Avarice^ and 
the many other evils that infest humanity 
and destroy manhood and womanhood 
must be arrested, and subjected to trial, 
conviction, and execution. It is the im- 
perative duty of every loyal disciple of 
Christ to adorn the world with a beautiful 
life, and to employ every honorable means 
to exterminate sin, and to have His will 
<lone among men. 



Loyalty to Christ, 51 

OUR FATHER'S BUSINESS. 

The Christian Eeligion is a vast busi- 
ness enterprise, which enhances the glory 
of God and enriches men. Its Proprietary 
is in ihe Celestial Metropolis of the universe — 
*^ the city, not made with hands, eternal in 
the Heavens." 

Jesus, a controlling member of this 
sacred firm and also the advance agents first 
began promoting its interests when, at the 
age of twelve. He sat in the midst of the 
learned doctors of the Law and said to 
His anxious mother, " Know ye not that 
I must be about my Father's business?" 
After this. He mingled with the people 
for about twenty-one years, and endeav- 
ored to acquaint first His own kindred, 
then others, with His mission. At the age 
of thirty-three. He paid the license with 
His own bloody and established the first 



52 Loyalty to Christ, 

office in Jerusalem. Here the traffic in 
souls began. There was a transfer of 
about three thousand the first day. 

The agents, whom Jesus had person- 
ally instructed, received authority from 
Heaven, and began an immediate canvass 
of Judea, Samaria, and adjacent countries. 
In their hands this Holy Business assumed 
immense proportions, and attracted the at- 
tention of the world. Wherever exhibited, 
the purchasing power of Truth resulted in 
the salvation of souls. 

The Christian Religion has been se- 
verely tried, Q^ndi found wanting m nothing. 
Its virtues glitter most while passing 
through the flames. One word — Inde- 
sinictible — binds together all the para- 
graphs of its history. 

It militated against the interests of Ju- 
daism, incurred the displeasure of this 
jealous, insolvent firm, and suffered in- 



Loyalty to Christ. 53 

tensely at its hands. Important papers 
were destroyed, canvassing agents were 
beaten and put to death, laws were enacted 
against it, and for the time being an as- 
signment seemed inevitable. 

The situation was made more discour- 
aging hy false syndicates getting possession 
of the territory. Most conspicuous and 
stubborn among these was Homanisniy 
which monopolized and perverted the 
Holy Business that our Savior had estab- 
lished. The real representatives of Chris- 
tianity were few and intimidated. But 
it was not swept, as supposed, from the 
face of the earth. In a council, held in 
Heaven, it was determined that the Dark 
Ages should not forever hinder our Father^ s 
Business. 

' * God works in a mysterious way, 
His wonders to perform.'* 



64 Loyalty to Christ. 

Business Reform began to be agitated. 
It was ardently advocated by some, and 
vigorously opposed by others. Long de- 
bates were held, conspiracies were inau- 
gurated, and the most atrocious crimes 
were committed. The struggle was des- 
perate. In their Loyalty to Christy Luther, 
Melanchthon, and others were exceedingly 
bold in denouncing the selfish monopolies 
and trusts that had operated so extensively 
against the power of the Gospel and re- 
duced the spirituality of the Church. 

They fearlessly recommended the Chris- 
tian Religion in its purity and simplicity; 
and, in consequence of their zeal and 
untiring efforts, the desired Reformation 
became a reality. 

For nearly four centuries it has been 
judiciously managed; and its success is 
now the wonder of the world. 

Stones and serpents no longer satisfy our 



Loyalty to Christ, 55 

huDger for bread and fish, *' We would 
see Jesus ^' is upon the lips of the people. 
The signs of the times point to a universal 
demand for the Gospel instead of creeds. 
Already the Religious syndicates of men are 
struggling for existence. How different 
with our Heavenly Father^ s Business ! 

It is now legitimate in nearly every 
country ; branch offices are multiplying 
and thriving as never before; and it is 
flourishing to His Glory and the spiritual 
development and wealth of the world. 

Within the past fifty years, it has devel- 
oped many new and excellent features; 
and among them the Christian Endeavor 
movement is gloriously conspicuous. It is 
the grandest organization in the Church, 
and God is using it with marvelous power. 
It is establishing sub-agencies — societies — 
by the thousand, and sending out canvass- 
ing agents — members — by the million. It 



56 Loyalty to Christ, 

now looks as if the unique interpretation 
of the initials— Y. P. S. C. E.—" Young 
People Shall Christianize the Earth '' — 
will be literally fulfilled. How glorious the 
work, in which we are engaged ! How it 
prospers in our hands ! The Heavenly Agent 
said to His subordinates, '^ Go — teach all 
nations — and lo, I am with you alway, 
even unto the end of the world." His 
commission is being obeyed, and He is 
verifying His promise by crowning our 
efforts with encouraging successes. 

As the days go by, and as our experi- 
ence increases, let us everyone become 
more efficient in His service; and may 
we, like Him, devote every moment of life 
to Our Father's Business, 

SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS. 

Christianity is a war on unrighteousness. 
When we renounce sin and accept Christ, 



Loyalty to Christ. 57 

our names are registered in Heaven. We 
then enlist in the most worthy cause on 
earth, and the report goes forth that we 
are Soldiers of the Cross. 

What foes we must encounter ! What 
dangers confront us ! " We wrestle not 
against flesh and blood, but against princi- 
palities, against powers, against the rulers 
of the darkness of this world, against spir- 
itual wickedness in high places.'^ Where- 
fore, let us each be clad in the ivhole armor 
of Godj that we may withstand the evil^ and 
having done all to stand as living monuments 
to Christ. 

** Onward, Christian soldiers, 
Marching as to war, 
With the Cross of J esus, 
Going on before.** 

The intrepid Captain of our salvation puts 
this order into the mouth of Paul, and 
^ends it down every line, " Quit you, like 



68 Loyalty to Christ, 

men, be strong.'' Let each soldier receive 
it with dignity; and, inspired by the 
valor of our great Commander, charge, 
with determined step, upon the enemy. 

By-and-by the dark clouds of war will 
have disappeared, the zigzag lightnings 
will no longer confuse the heavens, and 
the sunlight of everlasting peace will burst 
in splendor upon the battlefield. Sin will 
then have been conquered, and victory will 
perch upon our banners. 



Prayer* 



PRAYER. 



**Pray without ceasing.'' — I. Thess. v.: 17. 

IN the vestibule of St. Peters, at Rome, 
there is a door which is opened only 
four times a century. It is never en- 
tered by any one, save the Pope and a 
special delegation of cardinals. With this 
retinue, he approaches it on Christmas 
eve, at the expiration of each quarter of a 
century, and strikes upon it thrice with a 
silver hammer. When it opens, the solemn 
procession passes into an avenue, leading 
up to an altar, which the majority of them 
never saw before and will never see again. 
Unlike the Porta Santa, the way leading 
to the real altar of prayer is always open, 



64 Prayer, 

and is accessible to every child of God. 
In Christ Jesus we are all Higli Priests 
unto God; and it is our prerogative to 
enter the Holy of Holies^ where we can 
bathe our souls in the refreshing glory of 
the shechinaL Between the heart, that 
has been given to God and His Throne of 
Grace^ there are no barriers. 

**Agood man*s prayer will, 
from the deepest dungeon, climb Heaven* s 
heights. 
And bring a blessing down. ' ' 

PRAYER IS NATURAL. 

It is an essential part of every life. The 
most degraded heathen realizes its neces- 
sity, and employs it in the exigencies of 
his soul. 

It has been the arch-stone of every relig- 
ion in the history of the world. Because 
of its influence upon both Himself and 
His people, God has been pleased to make 



Prayer, 65 

it conspicuously important in every system 
of His Holy Religion. He encouraged it 
in the Patriarchal Age; it was woven 
into the services of the Hebrew Worship, 
and, in the Christian Dispensation, it is 
pre-eminently recommended. 

Christ set the example of prayer. It 
was His custom to withdraw from the 
pressing multitudes to pray. The most 
touching prayer upon record was offered 
by Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. 
When on the cross He forgot His own 
agony long enough to pray for those who 
were putting Him to death. 

He taught His disciples to lift their 
hearts to God in prayer. This was one 
of the first lessons they received from 
His matchless lips. When they became 
apostles, and went throughout the country 
preaching the Gospel, they lived in the 
atmosphere of prayer. 

5 



66 Prayer. 

It is probable that the Apostle Paul 
never saw Christ in the flesh ; neverthe- 
less, his useful Christian life was begun 
with prayer. When Ananias went to him 
in Damascus, he was on his knees praying. 

He lived by prayer. It was the secret 
of the marvelous successes of his life. In 
his letter to the churches, over which he 
had the spiritual oversight, he frequently 
referred to his constant prayers for the 
brethren^ whom he exhorted to ''Pray 
without ceasing.^' 

The leaders of our great religious re- 
formations have all been prayerful men. 
Luther spent several hours every day in 
his closet. Like Jacob of old, John Knox, 
the hero of Scotland, daily wrestled with 
God to obtain blessings upon his work. 
This petition belonged to nearly all of his 
prayers, ''Lord, give me Scotland, or I 
die." 



Prayer. 67 

The most renowned missionaries of the 
church have been men of strong faith and 
much prayer. Robert Moffat learned to 
talk with God as he talked with his friends; 
and Livingston is said to have died on his 
knees in an African tent. 

The successes of the world's most famous 
and useful preachers have resulted from 
neither education nor marked pulpit abil- 
ity, but from constant communion with 
God. In answer to a skeptic's question, 
Mr. Spurgeon said, ^^I could no more 
doubt the efficacy of prayer than I could 
disbelieve the law of gravitation.'' In 
addition to his wonderful work as a 
preacher and an author, he superintended 
an orphanage, which entailed an annual 
expenditure of about ten thousand pounds. 
When asked where the money came from, 
he replied, '^ I ask the Lord for it, and He 
sends it." 



68 Prayer, 

George Mailer's eventful life is another 
of the many beautiful examples of depend- 
ence upon prayer. The magnificent or- 
phanage in Bristol, which has attracted 
universal attention, and through the many 
commendable imitations of which showers 
of blessings are failing upon mankind in 
nearly every country, had no other foun- 
dation than the earnest prayers of a poor 
man, in bad health, who trusted God. 

The greatest benefactors of the world 
live in closest touch with God, and rely 
implicitly upon His promises. 

The soul that lives in God's presence 
must, by necessity of its peculiar relations, 
commune with Him. 

Having entered his service, we are in 
His employ, and must lay our plans before 
Him. 

He and we are in business together, and 



Prayer. 69 

it is necessary to confer with Him in re- 
gard to every important matter. 

It is impossible to associate with Him 
without talking to Him about the affairs 
of our lives. He is our friend, and it is 
natural that we should make a confidant 
of Him. He is our Father, and, as chil- 
dren at His feet, holding his hands, and 
looking up into His face, we cannot refrain 
from talking to Him, and asking His ben- 
edictions upon the interests of our hearts. 

We acknowledge that we live and move 
and have our being in the Lord, and we 
should, therefore, commit our ways unto 
Him. 

He who does not pray is unnatural, 
both as a man and as a Christian — espe- 
cially the latter. 

*^ Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, 
The Christian's native air, 
His watchword at the gates of death. 
He enters Heaven with prayer.'' 



70 Prayer. 

THE PRAYER OF FAITH. 

^' Without faith it is impossible to please 
God.'^ 

Prayer, without faith, is mockery. It 
is an abomination to God and a curse 
upon man. It can never reach Heaven. 

The prayer that our Heavenly Father 
hears and recognizes ascends to His Throne 
of Grace upon the wings of " Eagle-eyed 
Faith,'' which soars above every shadow 
and darts through every storm, and at last 
regales itself in the dazzling grandeur of 
the Majesty of Heaven. Jesus said, ^' What- 
soever things ye desire when ye pray, 
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall 
have them." 

Faith is Faithfulness, Paul declares that 
faith without love is worthless; and ex- 
plains that love is the fulfilling of the Law. 
James further states that "Faith without 



Prayer, 71 

works is dead." John also says, ^' "What- 
ever we ask, we receive of Him, because 
we keep His commandments, and do the 
things pleasing in His sight." 

We conclude, therefore, that effectual 
prayer must be made in a living faithj which 
pulsates with an ardent love for God, and 
grows strong in the holy exercise of keep- 
ing His commandments. 

THE INFLUENCE OF PRAYER. 

To what extent one mind can influence 
another is not definitely known. The 
question hereby set forth involves a sub- 
ject about which our most advanced 
thinkers know but little. Nevertheless, 
it suggests realities that are universally 
acknowledged. 

The prayers of innocent children have 
led their parents to Christ. The husband 
is often aroused to a sense of his duty 



72 Prayer. 

because he knows that his faithful wife 
prays for him. The Godly mother's 
prayer ofttimes follows her wayward boy 
into the far-off country of sin, and brings 
the prodigal back to His lathefs house. 
Hundreds of Christians joyfully testify 
that the prayers, offered in their behalf, 
impelled them to seek the Lord. 

Christ prayed for His disciples and for 
His enemies ; the apostles prayed for the 
household of faith, and we are taught to 
pray for one another. 

There can be no doubt as to the good 
influence of prayer upon those who 
pray. When Sir Philip Sidney started 
for Shrewsbury to enter school, his pious 
father admonished him to never neglect 
thoughtful prayer. 

When we start upon the highway of 
life, our Heavenly Father gives us the 
same golden advice ; and, if we heed it, a 



Prayer, 73 

never-failing staff of support will be in our 
hands throughout the journey. 

Prayer writes itself upon the counte- 
nance, and manifests itself in the life. 
You need not tell the careful observer that 
you live in the spirit of prayer. He will 
detect it in five minutes' conversation with 
you. 

Prayer is a safeguard against sin. Temp- 
tations flee before its wonderful power. 
Because of its preserving influence upon 
man, Satan looks upon it as his worst 
enemy. He has employed critics to shake 
the people's confidence in its efficacy, and • 
to explain away its necessity. In this, 
however, he is disappointed. The labored 
efforts of his employees are resulting in 
ridiculous failures. 

Preachers are exhorting their people to 
pray, as never before, and the Church is 
becoming more prayerful every day. The 



74 Prayer. 

world will ultimately become a temple of 
prayer. 

Luther said, "Prayer is a powerful 
thing, for God has bound and tied Himself 
thereunto/^ 

The influence of prayer upon God has 
been foolishly questioned. We are His 
offspring^ and it is natural that He should 
be affected by our petitions. If He does 
not hear and answer prayer, the Bible is 
false, Christ was an impostor, and our hope 
is vain. From beginning to end the Bible 
affirms that God is influenced by prayer, 
and records direct answers to it. In such 
graphic descriptions as that of Abraham 
praying over Sodom, Elijah praying for 
rain, and Hezekiah praying for his own 
life, who can help seeing the Divine Father 
inclining his ear to the supplications of 
His children and suiting His plans to their 
necessities ? 



Prayer. 75 

Also, in such positive statements and 
precious promises as the following, there 
is an assuring voice which no skepticism 
can hush. " Ask, and it shall be given 
you/^ ^' If ye shall ask anything in my 
name, I icill do it/' '' The effectual, fer- 
vent prayer of a righteous man availeth 
much.'' *' When thou prayest, enter into 
thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy 
door, pray to thy Father, which is in 
secret, and thy Father, which seeth in 
secret, shall reward thee openly." 

THE MEDIUM OF PRAYER. 

Jesus is our only medium of communi- 
cation with God. He is our advocate^ 
and takes pleasure in representing us in 
Heaven. Through Him we can whisper 
the messages of our hearts into the listen- 
ing ear of our Heavenly Father. 

We should never pray to Jesus, nor for 



76 Prayer. 

His sake, but in His dear name to God 
for our oion sake and that of our fellow-men. 

THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER. 

Our Heavenly Father regards neither 
the attitude of the body, the length of 
our prayers, nor the language in which 
they are expressed, but the spirit in which 
they are offered. 

The privilege of prayer should not be 
abused by thoughtless requests that do 
not represent our necessities. '^ Do I 
really need that for which I think of pray- 
ing?" "Will it be a blessing to me?'* 
" Will it increase my usefulness ? '^ These 
are appropriate questions to ask ourselves 
before making our requests known to God. 

The closet ought to be a happy place. 

An earthly father does not wish his 
child to cry whenever it asks a favor at 
his hands, neither does our Heavenly 



Prayer. 77 

Father wish us to always approach Him 
in tears. 

Gratitude should be borne to God upon 
the wings of every prayer. 

The author of our text, immediately 
upon finishing it, wrote, ''In everything 
give thanks." 

SaidLessing, ^^ A single grateful thought 
toward Heaven is the most complete 
prayer." 

** Sweet is the breath of vernal showers, 
The bee's collected treasures sweet; 
Sweet music's melting fall, but sweeter yet 
The still small voice of gratitude. ' * 

''Not my will, but Thine be done." 
This beautiful expression, which fell from 
our Savior's own lips, teaches us that sub- 
missiveness should characterize all our 
prayers. 

We are not expected to be in the act of 
formal 'prayer all the time, but if we live 



78 Prayer. 

up to the full measure of our calling, we 
must "Pray without ceasing.'' "We 
ought to pray as we live, by mingling 
prayer with all our thoughts/^ 



Bible Study. 



BIBLE STUDY. 



*' Search the Scriptures.''' — John v.: 39. 

WHEN on his death-bed, the celebrated 
Dr. Samuel Johnson said to a young 
man who visited him, " Attend to the 
voice of one who has possessed a certain 
degree of fame in the world, and who is 
about to appear before his Maker, Bead 
the Bible every day of your life.^^ 

The Bible is God's Book. It contains 
the Word of His Power, and is, therefore, 
the supreme instrument of His Redemp- 
tive System. 

**How precious is the Book Divine, 
By inspiration given ! 
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine 
To guide our souls to Heaven, 



84 Bible Study. 

This lamp, through all the tedious night 

Of life, shall guide our way, 
Till we behold the clearer light 

Of an eternal day/' 

THE BIBLE ITS OWN WITNESS. 

God is not calling for men to prove the 
Divinity of the Scriptures. The books, 
written upon this subject, have entailed 
a useless expenditure of money, time, and 
patience. 

The Bible is its own witness, and its 
testimony is unimpeachable. Conspicuous 
in John Randolph's library was a large 
Family Bible. In conversation with a 
minister of the Gospel, who was his guest, 
the distinguished orator said : ^' I grew up 
an infidel — if not an infidel complete, a 
decided deist. When I became a man, I 
bought that Book, and pored over it. 
When I had carefully examined it, I came 
to this irresistible conclusion : The Bible 



Bible Study, 85 

is true. It would have been as easy for a 
mole to have written Sir Isaac Newton's 
Treatise on Optics, as for uninspired nian 
to have written the Bible." 

The Bible, read carefully and impartially ^ 
never fails to reveal its Divine Author. 
His face is depicted on every page, and 
His attributes appear in every sentence. 

SIN. 

The natural man forgets the glorious 
design of his superior creation, and his 
very existence is a miserable perversion 
of the Divine idea. 

The original sin was the unwise gratifi- 
cation of a perverted desire; and ever 
since its contaminating influence first fell 
upon the human race, the earth has occu- 
pied and absorbed the spirits, sent to live 
upon and govern it. '^ The first man is 
of the earth, earthy." Our natural ten- 



86 Bible Study, 

dency is downward, and eternal ruin is at 
the end of the journey. "God created 
man in His own image." The creature 
was a perfect representative of the Creator, 
But, through degeneracy, the Divine light 
faded out of his countenance, and he has 
since lived in the likeness of Satan. No 
inventor ever perceived the result of his 
genius so complicated; no sculptor ever 
beheld the statue he had made so dis- 
figured ; no painter ever saw the picture, 
to which he had devoted time and talent, 
so effaced. 

When God looked upon the man He 
had made He S2iw failure. 

REDEMPTION. 

'' The Lord hath sent Redemption unto 
His people." The Inventor immediately 
located the difficulty, and knew how to 
avert it: the Sculptor was able to chisel 



Bible Study. 87 

away the defacement, and began to do it ; 
the Painter understood the art of repro- 
ducing His picture, and seized the brush. 

The Plan of the Ages, through which 
the pristine purity of Eden will be re- 
established in the earth, is rapidly accom- 
plishing its mission. The world will 
become the Temple of the Lord, and He 
and man will again commune with each 
other, face to face. 

God's Power is His Spirit, and His Spirit 
operates through His Word. " In the 
beginning was the word, and the word 
was with God, and the word was God.'' 
Through the instrumentality of His Word, 
all things were made. '^ God said let there 
be light, and there was light." At His 
command, the moon unveiled her face, 
and the stars took their places in the sky. 
At the sound of His voice, the earth began 
its revolutions, and vegetable and animal 



88 Bible Study, 

life appeared upon it. By His word, the 
spirit and body of man were created and 
wedded. 

God's power in Creation is His power in 
Begeneration. It never changes. The in- 
strument of His power, also, is ever the 
same. He purposes, therefore, to extri- 
cate our spirits from their intricacies in 
the flesh by operating upon them through 
His Word. 

Jesus says to every inquiring uncon- 
verted soul, ''Ye must be born again.'' 
In this transition the heart is cleansed, 
and a neiv creature comes into being. This 
essential purification results from an appli- 
cation of the Living Word. The Divine 
Teacher further states, "Ye are made 
clean through the Word, which I have 
spoken unto you." 

Paul discusses the reconciliation, which 
takes place between God and the soul, in 



Bible Study. 89 

conversion, and declares that it is ac- 
complished through the Divine Word. Peter^ 
also, explains that the new birth is effected 
by the Word of God. 

Wherever found and accepted, God's 
Word is efficacious. For the sake of con^ 
venience, however, it appears in the Bible. 

Our Heavenly Father's careful consid- 
eration of our frail human nature is 
wondrously conspicuous in the Plan of 
Redemption. Realizing our dullness of 
perception and proneness to negligence, 
He has condensed His Word into one 
short volume — the New Testament. It 
contains the essence of all the preceding 
Scriptures." '' The New Testament m 
concealed in the Old, and the Old i& 
revealed in the JSTew." 

This love letter from God is presented to 
UB by the crucified, buried, and risen 
Savior, who was. Himself, the ^' Incarnate 



90 Bible Study. 

Word.'' '' The Word was made flesh, 
and dwelt among us." '^ God, who, at 
sundry times and in divers manners, spake 
in time past unto the fathers by the 
prophets, hath in these last days spoken 
unto us by His Son, whom He hath 
appointed heir of all things, by whom He 
made the worlds." At his baptism, and 
also when He was transfigured before His 
disciples, He was commended as the only 
medium of the Divine Word in salvation, 
when the Lord said, '^ This is my beloved 
Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye 
Him." Jesus is the Savior of the world, 
^' There is none other name, under Heaven, 
given among men, whereby we must be 
saved." He said to His disciples, '' No 
man cometh unto the Father but by me." 
Out of Christ we are lost; in Him we are 
saved. 

The Bible gives the world its Messiah. 



Bible Study. 91 

The Old Testament prophecies described 
Him hundreds of years before He lived. 

The first four books of the K'ew Testa- 
ment record His interesting biography; 
the Acts of the Apostles is a brief history 
of the primitive Church — this book also 
sets forth the methods of Redemption, 
illustrating them with living examples; 
the twenty-one epistles constitute the 
Philosophy of Salvation ; and the Book of 
Eevelation presents our Savior as the 
Alpha and Omega of the Christian economy. 

The Bible reveals Jesus in His creative 
power, His regal splendor, and His saving 
ability. 

It also exhibits Him in the glorious pos- 
sibilities of human purity. 

A perfect man stands before us, and, as 
we gaze with increasing admiration upon 
His shining character, the appropriate 
exhortation, '' Let this mind (disposition) 



92 Bible Study, 

be in j^ou, which was also in Christ Jesus/^ 
is whispered into our hearts. 

In order to be saved, we must imitate 
Jesus; to imitate Him, we must know 
Him ; to know Him, we must learn of 
Him, and to learn of Him, we must read 
the Bible. 

THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Bread is the staff of life. The body must 
either have food or die. Hence, we supply 
it three times a day. 

The necessities of the body represent 
similar necessities of the spirit. The spirit 
is an organism that hungers and thirsts, 
and must have food. 

Because the spirit is of greater conse- 
quence than the body, spiritual food is 
more necessary than temporal food. It 
seems strange, therefore, that we should 
ever feast the body and starve the spirit. 



Bible Study, 93 

This we often do. We hunger when 
bread is within our reach, and thirst in 
sight of sparkling water. Thank God for 
the Christian Endeavor Pledge, which in- 
duces thousands of hungry souls to take 
nourishment every day. Jesus said, ''I 
am the living bread, which came down 
from Heaven ; if any man eat of this bread 
he shall live forever." He is the Chris- 
tianas meat and drinh Without Him, the 
soul perishes; with Him, it delights itself 
in fatness. 

This magnificent feast is spread in the 
Bible. The prophets and apostles are, 
to-day, serving the Bread of Life to the 
hungry multitudes. We must receive it 
at their hands, or not at all. 

This Heavenly food is abundant, and 
has been prepared for the whole world. 
The dining- chamber is open to all. Over 
the door the following inscription forms 



94 Bible Study. 

a golden arc : " Come, for all things are 
now ready; " and within, each soul finds 
a royal -welcome. There is a seat at the 
table for every member of the human 
family — hence the universal invitation of 
the Gospel. 

A PERMANENT SOURCE OF STRENGTH. 

The Bible is adapted to every condition 
of life. Without it, the furniture of the 
palace is incomplete; and, in the hovel, 
it has a place on the shelf. The discovery 
of a home without a Bible would put a 
new story into the mouth of Madam Rumors 
and ostracize its occupants. Such a home 
would be a curiosity in the neighborhood. 

The Bible is the rich man^s companion, 
and the poor man's friend. Its mission is 
the same in every clime, and its benefac- 
tions are bestowed upon all classes of 
people. 



Bible Study. 95 

The Bible is a permanent Book. 

*' A glory gilds the Sacred Page, 
Majestic like the sun; 
It gives a light to every age — 
It gives, but borrows none/' 

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but 
the Word of God will abide forever. We 
live in the radiance of its precepts; and 
in judgment its searchlight will reveal the 
secrets of our lives. 

It is our greatest source of strength in 
life, and in death it will be our only sup- 
port. When the eyes get too weak to be- 
hold physical light, and darkness gathers 
about us, it will be our noonday sun. 
Bishop Latimer read the Bible every day. 
It was the counsel of his youth and the 
joy of his age. The last year of his life 
was spent in a dingy prison reading and 
thinking about Jesus. When, at last, with 
Nicholas Ridby, he went to the stake, as 



96 Bible Study. 

he said, to light a candle for England^ he 
took the blessed old Book with him. It 
had been his support in life, and he leaned 
upon it in death. His parched hands 
olasped the flaming volume to his burning 
bosom, while his loyal spirit flew away to 
God. 

A saving knowledge of God's Word is 
the pressing need of every soul in the 
trying hour of death. 

THE BIBLE IS EVER FRESH 

It never grows old. Its treasure mines 
are inexhaustible. Each exploration re- 
sults in new discoveries. Eare jewels 
sparkle in passages with which we have 
been familiar from childhood. The con- 
stant student of the Bible sees something 
new in it every time he reads it. Dr. 
Charles Elliott was a close student of the 
Bible all his life. When in his seventy- 



Bible Study, 97 

seventh year he read the Old Testament 
through in three weeks. Just a month 
before his death, as he sat reading^ the old 
Book, which, like himself, was nearly 
worn out, his daughter interrupted him 
with the question, ^' Father, what are you 
reading ? " and he replied, '' I am reading 
news." 

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. 

The Christian Armor would be incom- 
plete without an instrument with which 
to fight sin. Hence the apostolic injunc- 
tion : '^ Take the sword of the Spirit, 
which is the Word of God/' It must be 
in the hand of every soldier of the cross. 

According to a current story, an ambi- 
tious young man rejoiced when war was 
declared because he thought it would 
afiord him an opportunity to distinguish 
himself. He entered the service as com- 



98 Bible Study. 

raander of a company, and was impatient 
for the first battle. When the anticipated 
hand-to-hand conflict ensued his heart 
throbbed with excitement, and an expres- 
sion of determination took possession of 
his countenance. The hour for action had 
arrived ! He drew his sword, and instantly 
dropped it with a shriek. I^Tot under- 
standing its use, he had grasped the blade 
instead of the hilt, and wounded himself 
instead of the enemy. How characteristic 
of the ignorance in which Christians often 
enter battle! ^' The Word of God is 
quick and powerful, and sharper than any 
two-edged sword, piercing even to the 
dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of 
the joints and marrow, aod is a discerner 
of the thoughts and intents of the heart.'' 
Without a knowledge of its use it is dan- 
gerous to handle the Word of God. Un- 
less we know how to wield the Sword of 



Bible Study, 99 

the Spirit when fighting Infidelity, poptilar 
sins^ or any of the forces that Satan arrays 
against us, we will cut our own arguments 
in twain instead of wounding the enemy. 
With the Word of God our Savior 
fought and defeated the temptations that 
assailed Him in the wilderness : and with 
it He gained subsequent victories over 
skepticism and the numerous other un- 
holy doctrines with which He came in 
contact. He has put His sword into our 
hands, and commands us to charge upon 
the hosts of unbelief. Our success in bat- 
tle depends upon our knowledge of the 

Bible. 

PREACHING. 

" The Gospel of Christ is the power of 
God unto salvation.^' It is the only ray 
of light which can reach the souls that 
grope in darkness and lead them out into 
the Highway of Holiness. 



100 Bible Study, 

The Gospel is powerless unless those 
who need it receive it; and " How shall 
they hear without a preacher/' ^' It 
pleases God, by the foolishness of preach- 
ing, to save them that believe/' 

The entire Church is responsible tor the 
salvation of the world. Every Christian 
is called to the Gospel Ministry. Our lives 
are sermons, and to them the world is list- 
ening. Are they sermons of righteous- 
ness? Do they abound in the Word of 
God ? 

In answer to^ a theological student's 
question, " What did you think of my ser- 
mon?" an old preacher replied, ''Your 
enunciation was clear, your gesticulation 
was all that could be wished, and the 
rhetoric could not have been improved. 
The sermon was well prepared and well 
delivered, but it lacked one thing — I saw 
no Jesus in it." The rebuke, though 



Bible Study. 101 

severe, was just. Too many Christless ser- 
mons are imposed upon the world. 

If we would make our lives effectual 
sermons of righteousness Jesus must ap- 
pear in every sentence ; and if we would 
preach Jesus we must preach the Bible. 

Paul's injunction to Timothy, " I charge 
thee before God and the Lord Jesus 
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the 
dead at his appearing and His Kingdom, 
jjreach the Word^^^ concerns our ministry 
also. In order to preach the Word we must 
know it ; and in order to know it we must 
" Search the Scriptures." ^' Study to show 
thyself approved unto God; a workman 
that needeth not to be ashamed; rightly 
dividing the word of Truth." 



The House of God. 



THE HOUSE OF GOD. 



** We will not forsake the house of our God.'^ — Neh, 
x.:39. 

PRIOR to their captivity the Israelites 
had forsaken the House of Q od. This 
was one of their greatest sins, and its 
penalty was severe. During the extreme 
Humiliation of their servitude, they re- 
pented of their negligence and sought the 
Lord. Consequently, upon their return 
from Babylon, they unanimously adopted 
the resolution of our text. 

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. 

Upon our triumphant return from the 
captivity of unbelief we become identi- 
fied with the Church of Christ, and reeog- 



106 The House of God, 

nize her rites and customs. The first step 
that we take in our new relations pledges 
us to an uncompromising support of the 
Church. 

THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR PLEDGE. 

" It is too binding." This is one of the 
most general criticisms passed upon the 
Christian Endeavor Pledge. 

The unmistakable sophistry of this 
criticism appears, however, when the/^ro- 
fession of Church membership and the pledge 
in question are placed side by side and im- 
partially analyzed. The Christian Reli- 
gion is binding^ and he who does not wish 
to assume and live under imperative obli- 
gations should not make the profession. 
He is a traitor in the church, and ought 
to be excommunicated. 

The Endeavor Pledge comprises the un- 
written j)ledge of the Christian Profession. 



The House of God, Kfl 

The consistent child of God carries upon 
his heart the burdens of the church of 
which he is a member, and is bound by his 
own vows — publicly made — to extend its 
interests in every possible, honorable way. 

The support, thus pledged, undoubtedly 
respects our time on the Lord's-Day. Reg- 
ular church attendance entails less ex- 
pense than anything else that is expected 
of us, and yet it is the most important 
service we can perform in the Master's 
name. We must conclude, therefore, that 
the following section of the Christian En- 
deavor Pledge, "I promise Him that I will 
support my own church in every way^ espec- 
ially hy attending all her Sunday and mid- 
week services^ unless prevented by some reason 
which lean conscientiously give to my Savior y^' 
is no more binding than the pledge taken 
when we join the church. 

The section of the Pledge just quoted 



108 The House of God, 

has been erroneously accused of being 
tinctured with sectarianism. Its primarj^ 
meaning is not even denommationalloyaliy. 
It forcibly reminds the active member of 
his obligations to the local congregation of 
which he is a member, and rehinds him to 
his duty. The methods of service speci- 
fied in it constitute this a conclusive in- 
ference. 

SACREDNESS OF THE HOUSE OF GOD. 

It is claimed by some that one place can 
be no more sacred than another, and that 
a church-building is no more the House of 
God than the home or the place of busi- 
ness. In support of this position, one of 
David's most beautiful psalms, '' The earth 
is the Lord's and the fullness thereof," i& 
quoted and misapplied. This is a state- 
ment of sublime facts, but it does not 
prove that some parts of the earth are not 



The House of God, 109 

distinguished by more sacredness than 
others. Every true Christian realizes that 
the Lord's dominion is universal, and joy- 
fully unfurls the banner of his God over 
all his possessions. No family circle is 
complete without Jesus, nor is a business 
worthy to prosper in a place wherein His 
holy presence is not recognized. 

The home of the Christian is therefore 
sacred, and likewise are the houses in 
which he provides for the necessities of 
his family. 

We ought to worship God continually. 

Wherever a Christian heart beats, there 
should be an altar of prayer. In every 
place and under all circumstances com- 
munion with God is both possible and 
commendable. The parlor and the sleep- 
ing-chamber, the storehouse and the count- 
ing-room, the workshop and the officer's 
beat, the steamboat and the railway car, 



110 The House of God, 

the hotel and the pleasure park, are all 
sacred places, because they are possible 
temples of devotion. Nevertheless, when 
in a house of congregational worship we 
are on " Holy ground/' It is more sacred 
than other places, because it has been dedi- 
cated to the special service of God. 

NECESSITY FOR CHURCH PROPERTY. 

For more than three thousand years 
houses of special service have been con- 
nected with God's Holy Religion. 

While in the cloud on Sinai, Moses re- 
ceived an exact pattern of the Tabernacle 
which the Lord ordered him to build. 

The Tabernacle was the Tent of Jehovah 

The Lord dwelt in the midst of His 
People, and they recognized it as the place 
of His abode. Here He met them, re- 
ceived their offerings, and blessed them. 
The Tabernacle was a fixture in Israel 



The House of God, 111 

until displaced by the magnificent Tem- 
ple which was erected in Jerusalem. 

When David had grown rich, and lived 
in luxury, he said to Nathan, the prophet. 
'* I live in an house of cedars, but the Ark 
of the Covenant of God remaineth under 
curtains." That night the prophet was 
instructed to encourage the intentions of 
the King, but because he had been a war- 
rior and his hands were stained loith bloody 
David was not permitted to build the Tem- 
ple. He enjoyed the privilege, however, 
of making extensive preparations for the 
dazzling enterprise, and then committed 
it to his son Solomon, of whom the Lord 
had said, " He shall build me an house." 
The Temple was built under Solomon's 
wise supervision, and became one of the 
greatest wonders of the world. Nearly 
fifteen hundred vears after its erection 
Justinian's highest architectural ambition 



112 The Hmise of God, 

was to eclipse the grandeur of this build- 
ing. Modern architects study the descrip- 
tion of its peculiar beauty with increasing 
interest, and acknowledge their inability 
to reproduce it. The lavish display of pre- 
cious metals, the elaboration of carved 
ornaments, and the beauty of the textile 
fabrics, made this the most splendid edi- 
fice in the history of the world. 

The Temple was dedicated with impos- 
ing ceremonies, and recognized by Al- 
mighty God as the dwelling-place of His 
honor. 

It was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, 
and restored by Zerubbabel. Just before 
the birth of Christ it was torn down and 
rebuilt under the administration of Herod. 

Thus, for about fifteen hundred years, 
the Lord revealed Himself to His People 
in the tents and houses that they built and 
dedicated to His service. When His Peo- 



The House of God, 113 

pie manifested an abiding interest in His 
House they were marvelously successful, 
but when they forsook it he withdrew His 
protection, and adversity overtook them. 

Jesus grew up in the House of God, and 
during his entire life reverently acknowl- 
edged the importance of its services. 

With whipcord in hand He drove the 
avaricious merchants out of the Temple, 
which they had profaned. He never neg- 
lected Divine worship. '' He came to Naz- 
areth, where He had been brought up : 
and, as His custom was, He went into the 
synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood 
up to read.'^ 

His disciples followed his example. 

After his death they endeavored to com- 
ply with His commission, " Go ye into all 
the world, and preach the Gospel unto 
every creature,^' and, wherever they went, 
established places of public worship, 

8 



114 The House of God, 

wherein the Lord met His people (as of 
old), and blessed them. 

These sacred precedents, together with 
the manj^ Bible references to the Lord's 
House and its services, should forever pre- 
clude all questions as to the scriptural 
ground for the erection and maintenance 
of church property. 

When viewed from a 'practical standpoint^ 
it is a necessity. Every successful enter- 
prise must have headquarters. Hence, the 
purchase or leasing of property for busi- 
ness, political organizations, benevolent 
societies, and pleasure clubs. 

Church work, wherever begun, is an 
enterprise upon the success of which de- 
pends the salvation of souls. Is it not, 
therefore, worthy of a place, from which 
to operate upon lost humanity ? 

Without a radiating centre it can have 
no permanency, and its present usefulness 



The House of God. 115 

is circumscribed. A church without a 
house of worship is a failure. 

Our natures demand a place of common 
interest. This demand can be supplied 
only within the building that has been 
separated from the secular world, and dedi- 
cated to the cause of our blessed Master. 
The place in which visiting Christians 
are not welcome, and where poor people 
are in the way, if called a church, is im- 
properly named. I^o one man owns the 
House of God. It is the property of all 
His people, and everyone should realize 
that he has an interest in it. The Church 
is a family circle, and the house of wor- 
ship is its home. We are '' Children of the 
King," and should delight to live in our 
Father's House. Here we meet our Father 
and our brethren, and sit with them in a 
^* Heavenly place." 



116 The House of God. 

THE OPEN CHURCH. 

An open church seven days in the iceek is 
needed in every community. We open 
our churches three or four hours on Lord's- 
Day and an hour in the middle of the 
week, and keep the doors locked and 
barred the rest of the time. Is this the 
way to keep the Lord's House ? Can we 
look out upon the general public, from 
which we solicit building funds, and say, 
in the language of the Psalmist, '' We 
have blessed you out of the House of the 
Lord?'' 

Our churches should be open for medi- 
tation and prayer during the week as well 
as on the Lord's-Day. Daily devotion in 
the House of God is a good exercise. It 
is exceedingly helpful to pass out of the 
busy streets, and spend a few minutes in 
the sacred quietude of a church. The in- 



The House of God. 117 

fluences of the Lord's House, when one 
is all alone in it, are soul-lifting. 

Here the spirit is refreshed and impres- 
sions that promote righteousness in the 
life are received. In the sanctuary of the 
Lord there is a ^' still, small voice " for 
every soul. 

PUBLIC WORSHIP. 

The Church of Christ is the ''Light of 
the world.'' Organization is essential to 
its existence. In order to have an organi- 
zation there must be not only interest in 
the movement, but a manifestation of it. 
Well-organized churches are the founda- 
tion pillars of Gospel work. Remove 
them, and there will be an end to mission- 
ary enterprise. Churches are supported 
by the interest manifested in their ser- 
vices, and by it their usefulness is meas- 
ured. The success of the Gospel in its 



118 The House of God. 

mission of salvation is, therefore, depend- 
ent upon Church Attendance. 

Those who attend the House of God 
irregularly are not the leading, influential 
members of the church. When special 
efforts are contemplated they are always 
marked doubtfuL They are subjects of 
earnest prayer and objects of constant so- 
licitude. In the official meetings of the 
church numerous ways and means are de- 
vised to increase their interest in the 
Lord's work, but in their cases nothing 
seems effectual. 

The genuine Christian is a church- 
worker and the church-worker is a 

CHURCH-aOER. 

The most spiritual members of the 
church are in their places at every service 
unless prevented by some reason which they 
can conscientiously give to their Savior. Their 
absence always creates surprise, and is the 
subject of anxious inquiries. 



The House of God, 119 

Upon the shoulders of those Godly men 
and women whose vacant seats^ in either a 
Lord's-Day service or the midweek prayer- 
meeting, are conspicuous, rest the burdens 
of the Lord's work. They are, therefore, 
'' The light of the world." Their talents 
are multiplying in the Lord's name. He 
will receive his own, ivith usury , at their 
hands ; and they, having been faithful over 
a few things, will pass through gates of 
pearl into the Celestial City, to have do- 
minion over many things. 

" The way of the Lord is in His sanctu- 
ary." 

The House of God is the gateway to 
Heaven. 

Death is sweet to the soul that can look 
up into the face of its God and say, "I 
have loved the habitation of Thy House 
and the place where Thine honor dwell- 
eth." 



120 The House of God, 

In order that we may thus address Him 
in death, this message should be upon our 
lips in life, '' One thing have I desired of 
the Lord, that will I seek after ; that I may 
dioell in the House of the Lord all the days 
of my life." 

Church attendance is not only an im- 
perative duty, but a happy privilege. It 
should be the constant desire of the Lord's 
people to assemble in His House, and 
there worship Him. If this is our desire^ 
we will seek after it — that is, we will put 
forth efforts to attend church, when to do 
so is not altogether convenient. 

When our Savior comes to make up 
His jewels, those whom He will prize most 
will have been faithful to the duties of the 
Lord's House. They will shine w^th Him, 
**As the stars and as the firmament, for- 
ever and ever." Let us not forsake the 
House of our Grod. 



Consecration. 



CONSECRATION. 



** Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day 
unto the Lord f^' — I Chron. xxix.: 5. 

THERE are no easy-chairs in the Church. 
It is not a place wherein the Chris- 
tian amuses himself walking about 
in richly-furnished apartments and re- 
clining on cushioned divans. 

'' Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.'* 

SERVICE. 

The keynote of Christianity is Service. 

Jesus said, " My Father worketh hith- 
erto, and I work." 

His life was a day of labor. In the 
early morning He expounded the Scrip- 
tures to men who professed the ability to 
interpret them ; at midday He earned His 



126 Consec7'ation. 

bread in the sweat of His face ; through- 
out the afternoon He served humanity, 
and at sunset He saved the thief on the 
cross. 

The apostles followed the example of 
their Master. He commanded them to 
'^ Go into all the world and preach the 
Gospel unto every creature.'' They 
readily received this command and "went 
everywhere preaching the word.'' Their 
lives were devoted to the cause they rep- 
resented. They toiled in its interests day 
and night. 

Unfortunately the erroneous idea is 
everywhere prevalent that the Word of 
Inspiration under which Christianity first 
stamped its influence upon the world does 
not apply to us. 

We live under the same dispensation of 
Grace that the early Christians lived un- 
der, and their holy calling is ours. " All 



Consecration. 127 

Scripture is given by inspiration of God» 
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 
for correction, for instruction in righteous- 
ness; that the Man of God — not the wpos- 
ties only — may be perfect, thoroughly fur- 
nished unto all good works." To us, 
therefore, the following healthy advice is 
given : " Walk worthy of the vocation 
wherewith ye are called.'^ We are not 
called to fold our hands and rest. The 
Divine command is, ^'Go work in my 
vineyard.'^ 

Church dignitaries are backn umbers. 
They have never been indispensable to the 
Lord's work. In the Gospel field there 
are no masters save Christ. We are all 
servants. Although he had authority in 
both Heaven and earth, our Savior was 
Himself a servant, and His disposition 
must be conspicuous in the lives of His 
disciples. 



128 Co7isecration, 

^^ He that would wear the crown must 
bear the cross. '^ 

THE SUPREME NEED OF THE CHURCH. 

Giant reformers are no longer in de- 
mand. 

The great doctrines of the Church have 
been established, and the day of reforma- 
tions is past. 

A modification of our sectarian posi- 
tions is necessary ; but this cannot be ac- 
complished through the organization of 
new denominations. Such efforts would 
but make the situation more complicated. 
Christian Union is both desirable and com- 
mendable, but it will never be brought 
about by religious controversies. In these 
bloodless conflicts, a few men are tempo- 
rarily distinguished, and the public is 
humbugged, but nothing of real value is 
accomplished. After a battle of ideas, 



Consecration, 129 

each side claims the victory, but neither 
has gained it. Modern controversy upon 
the Christian Religion is an inexcusable 
farce. The pre-eminent needs of the 
Church are wrapped up in the meaning of 
one word— CONSECRATION. 

Churchanity is necessary, but it should 
twinkle behind the blazing orb of Christi- 
anity. Our professions are good, but we 
do not practice them enough. 

Empty lip service is too general. Our 
religion consists too much in song. If the 
will of every one who sings : 

* ' Consecrate me now 
To Thy service, Lord, 
By the power of Grace Divine; 
Let my soul look up 
With a steadfast hope. 
And my will be lost in Thine, ' * 
was really lost in the will of God, the do- 
minion of Satan would come to naught in 
a very short time. Archimedes said, 

9 



130 Consecration, 

" Give me enough lever, and I will move 
the world." God has committed the 
work of saving souls to His people. The 
Gospel of Christ, which is in our hands, 
is His power in salvation ; and if all pro- 
fessing Christians would take hold of it, 
and pull together, the world would be 
speedily lifted out of its present state of 
Bin and misery. When we shall see only 
Christ and the world, and our supreme 
desire is to unite them, harmony will per- 
vade our ranks, and our common prayer, 
" Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done 
on earth as it is in Heaven," will be an- 
swered. 

Christian Union will obtain on the Mis- 
sion field. When the church shall have 
no other motive than to save souls, her 
divisions will go down in the west, and 
the eastern sky will grow purple in the 
advancing light of the Millenium. 



Consecration, 131 

Just before ascending from His earthly 
throne to sit upon a superior one beyond 
the skies, David made an appeal to Israel 
in the language of our text, *^ Who then 
is willing to consecrate his service this day 
unto the Lord.'' 

In type, Solomon represented Christ, 
His Temple the Church of Christ, and 
his people the followers of Christ. He 
was the King of Israel, and Jesus is our 
King. David addressed Solomon's people 
concerning the consecration which should 
clothe their efforts in building the Temple ; 
and God, the Father of our King, urges 
upon us the necessity of being thoroughly 
consecrated to our work, through which 
precious souls are to be placed, as living 
stones^ in the walls of Zion. 

To the appeal of David, a marvelous 
response was made; and then the people 



132 Consecratio7i, 

rejoiced together, because they had given 
loillinghj unto the Lord. 

Man is a free agent. He can act as he 
chooses. His Volition is the greatest evi- 
dence of his kinship to God. The power 
of the human will cannot be measured- 
It is the most wonderful part of the spirit. 
God speaks to neither the Intellect nor 
the Sensibility. These are only servants 
in the mental household. The invitation 
of the Gospel is neither whosoever thinks^ 
nor whosoever feels ^ but " whosoever will." 
The appeal of our text represents the true 
spirit of the Gospel, and it is directed to 
the master of the mind — the Will. Un- 
willing service is not acceptable to God. 
His servants must rejoice in His work. 

" No man can serve two masters.'' God 
and Satan cannot dwell in each others 
presence. No life, therefore, can be de- 



Consecration. 133 

TOted to both good and evil. God says 
to each of us, '-'- Give me thine heart.'' 

Half-hearted service is an abomination 
in His sight. He stands at the door of the 
heart, out of which are the issues of life, 
and knocks for admittance. If He is in- 
vited in and eiithroned in the affections, 
the entire life will be consecrated to His 
service. The following exhortation, w^hich 
was originally given to the Christian 
people of Corinth, has been preserved for 
our benefit : '' Be ye not unequally yoked 
together with unbelievers; for what fel- 
lowship hath righteousness with unright- 
eousness? and what communion hath 
lio-ht with darkness? and what concord 
hath Christ w^ith Belial? or what part 
hath he that believeth with an infidel ? 
and what agreement hath the temple of 
God with idols ? for ye are the temple of 
the living God; as God hath said, I will 



184 Cofisecration. 

dwell in them and walk in them ; and I will 
be their God, and they shall be my people. 
Wherefore, come out from among them, 
and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and 
touch not the unclean thing, and I will re- 
ceive you, and will be a Father unto you, 
and ye shall be my sons and daughters." 

Our Savior lived in the flesh and min- 
gled with sinful humanity, yet His life 
was an exhibition of Heavenly purity. He 
was in the midst of sin, but did not com- 
mit it. When praying for His disciples 
He said, " I pray not that Thou shouldest 
take them out of the world, but that Thou 
shouldest keep them from the evil." The 
Christian is in the world, but not of it. 
We necessarily come in contact with sin, 
but must not be contaminated with it. 
Jesus condemned sin in the flesh, and it is 
our duty to rebuke it upon every occasion. 



Consecration, 135 

MEANING OF CONSECRATION. 

The term consecrate is derived from two 
Latin words, eon — together^ and sacro — to 
solemnize or immortalize. Its important 
meaning, therefore, respects both time and 
eternity. 

When we give ourselves to God all our 
present and future efforts are surrendered 
in solemnity to His service, and are thereby 
immortalized together in prospect of our 
own righteousness and His glory. 

SPECIFIC SERVICE. 

Oliver Cromwell once visited one of the 
great c^. nrches of England, and saw in one 
of the side chapels a number of silver 
statues. " What are these ?'' he sternly 
demanded of the dean, who accompanied 
him. 

" Please your Highness, they are the 
twelve apostles," was the reply. 



136 Consecration, 

" The twelve apostles ! " exclaimed 
Cromwell. ^' Take them away at once 
and melt them down and coin them into 
money, that, like their Master, they may 
go about doing good." This rebuke did 
not die with its author, nor was it limited 
to the interior of the building in which it 
was spoken. It lives to-day, and is far- 
reaching in its mission. It points to in- 
difference and lethargy in the lives of pro- 
fessing Christians throughout the world. 
An alarming portion of our church-mem- 
bership is petrified. 

Common statuary mars the beauty of all 
our churches. Investigation reveals that 
the burdens of every congregation are 
borne by ih^ faithful few ^ while the major- 
ity of the members are as stationary and 
worthless as the silver images that Crom- 
well saw. 

Practical Christianity is in demand. 



Consecration. 137 

Theory is good, but "practice is better. 

Upon the activity of the Church de- 
pends both the salvation of the world and 
that of itself. A traveller was perishing 
in a snow-storm. When partially yield- 
ing to the drowsiness with which the in- 
tense cold had affected him, he was almost 
ready to fall asleep in the arms of death, 
he suddenly stumbled upon the form of 
another unfortunate traveller. He began 
at once to chafe the frozen hands and to 
beat the rigid body, and when at last he 
succeeded in rousing the man to con- 
sciousness, and had placed him upon his 
feet, he was surprised to find that his own 
blood circulated regularly, and that his 
own body was warm. 

In saving others we save ourselves. 
Missionary Enterprise is a part of the 
Plan of Kedemption. It develops in the 
soul a disposition to save the lost. This 



138 Co7isecration, 

is a Divine attribute, and if we are saved 
it must become a part of us. 

The Divine likeness is not a mere picture 
of God upon the soul, but His holy nature 
permeating the entire being. It is the 
Christ Life. This essential life cannot 
be possessed in its fullest measure imme- 
diately upon conversion, but develops ac- 
cording to the conditions under which the 
soul places itself. It is not spasmodic. 
The religion which appears to-day and 
disappears to-morrow is ineffectual. The 
Christ life is the gradual growth of the 
soul in righteousness. One of the surest 
signs of spiritual progress is an increasing 
interest in the Lord's work. God loved 
the world, and gave himself for it ; and 
the soul, in which His nature unfolds 
itself, must do likewise. 

In the consecration of ourselves to the 
service of God nothing can be withheld. 



Consecration. 139 

Everything we possess must be placed 
upon the altar. The Lord has need of 
our time, talents, property, and influence; 
and if we truly belong to Him He is ac- 
corded the privilege of using them at His 
option. We are His stewards, and He 
will require a strict account of every 
farthing entrusted to us. 

REASONS FOR CONSECRATION. 

We should constantly address ourselves 
in the language of the Psalmist, ^' Bless 
the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all 
His benefits." The Lord is our incessant 
benefactor. He anticipates our necessi- 
ties, and showers both temporal and spir- 
itual blessings upon us day by day. He 
withholds from us nothing that would 
contribute to our prosperity and happi- 
ness. 

Is it not His prerogative, therefore, to 



140 Consecration, 

expect something at our hands? The 
consecration of our services to His cause is 
all that He asks in return for His loving 
kindness toward us. Since He loves us so 
freely and provides for us so graciously it 
is right that He should extend to us the 
privilege of doing all that we can in the 
way of remuneration, which is signifi- 
cantly expressed in the familiar lines of 
an old song: 

'* Here, Lord, I give myself to Thee, 
^Tis all that I can do/' 
The entire consecration of our service to 
the Lord is made an imperative duty by 
the laws that regulate our relations one to 
another. In society this unwritten law 
is enforced: ''Return invitation for invi- 
tation, present for present, and courtesy 
for courtesy, because favors conferred in- 
duce obligations/' When it is violated a 
penalty is paid. Hence, it is generally 



Consecration, 141 

kept. Are we not the daily recipients of 
Divine favors ? 

Should we be less courteous to God than 
to man ? 

If we appreciate the favors of men we 
ought to be extremely grateful to God for 
His loving kindness^ and all our words and 
actions should be substantial expressions 
of our gratitude. 

In the business world there is a law 
which compels every man to give value 
received for all that he gets. It binds both 
himself and heirs for his obligations. It 
is absurd to even think of giving value 
received for the manifold blessings that 
come to us from God's rich storehouse. 
Nevertheless, it would be dishonest to re- 
frain from paying a part of the debt be- 
cause we cannot liquidate the whole. 

An honest man is honest with his God. 
Our Heavenly Father is graciously con- 



142 Consecration, 

siderate, and when we do all that we can 
and desire to do more, He cheerfully ac- 
cepts the will for the deed. " If there be 
first a willing mind it is accepted accord- 
ing to that a man hath, and not accord- 
ing to that he hath not." 

If we love God we are already conse- 
crated to His service. ^' Love is the parent 
of obedience." The soul, therefore, in 
which the love of God is reciprocated, 
never hesitates to obey His command- 
ments. 

** Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
That were a present far too small; 
Love, so amazing, so Divine, 

Demands my soul, my life, my all.** 
Behold our Savior agonizing in Geth- 
semane, and then dying on Calvary for 
us! 

Each scene should cause us to rejoice 
exceedingly in the glorious privilege of 
living for Him. 



Consecration, 143 

Humbolt said, " The fairest fruit earth 
holds up to its maker is a finished man." 
Physical and mental culture are essential 
to prosperity and happiness, but neither 
nor both can constitute a finished man. 
Business and professional successes are 
goals that we should strive to reach, but 
the most brilliant successes that it is pos- 
sible to attain fail to finish those who re- 
joice only in them. The millionaire in a 
healthy body, whose intellectual qualifica- 
tions attract and hold the attention of the 
world is a failure if he is not engaged in 
the service of God. The soul finds its 
complement only in Christ. ''Ye are 
complete in Him." The finished man is a 
Christian, and the Christian is a servant 
of God. 



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